New Year Thoughts for 2004

Peace and Justice for the Year 2004

The year 2003 was not a happy one for world peace. Instead of beginning a 21st century of 'cooperation and peace', the world was thrown back to the beginning of the 20th century, into a period dominated by balance of powers politics and uncontrollable world power ambitions, a period in which war was considered as a continuation of politics but with different means. The world had to suffer two world wars, the looting of Europe and the irretrievable disappearance and crippling of several generations of young men before it produced the UN charter which finally banned the use of war as a legitimate means of solving international conflicts. It seemed as if the generation of pacifists, whose passionate symbol was Bertha von Suttner, could rejoice that world politicians had been brought to their senses.

But the year 2003 showed that no victory can be a lasting one, and in particular the triumph of reason and good will have no lasting quality if they are not defended on the initiative of the citizens. The dreadful sound of sirens, the scream of bombers and the fire infernos of the Iraq war roused us all from our carefree dreams at the end of the past year. The year 2004 will be of enormous importance for the defence of peace. The negative development that we are witnessing will either be stopped by all people of good will managing to cooperate with one another, or else the theory of pre-emptive wars can drag the world into a vast conflict as has happened before in the course of history. In the year 2004 compliance with international law and the defence of world peace will be the important issues.

Our Bertha-von-Suttner Society, in cooperation with all people of kindred spirit, desires to help ensure that the scales of history tip towards lasting peace and equal rights.

Safeguarding peace requires civil courage, and it requires even more courage to sustain that civil courage.

Radek Vogl, Co-founder of the Bertha-von--Suttner Society, Prague/Czech Republic